Selectmen on Wednesday exonerated the zoning board chairman and other board members after a resident filed a written complaint alleging behavior by the board she found “aggressive” and “intimidating.”

Resident Ashley Slater objected to the zoning board’s treatment of her inquiries at a May 7 public hearing regarding Scott Greenberg’s special permit for a motorcycle repair business at 457 South Main St., Unit 6. As an abutter within 500 feet, Slater said she expressed concerns about traffic, business operating hours and the site’s proximity to a school bus stop.

Slater accused Chairman William Lucini and fellow board members of behavior that “belittled” her and expressed ethics concerns that “Mr. Lucini, an abutting business owner himself, should not be able to approve of zoning permits in which his business may profit from in the future.”

However, selectmen concluded there was not sufficient evidence to establish there was any wrongdoing by Lucini or other zoning board members. Slater also requested selectmen order “proper decorum training” for public officials, but selectmen stated that such action was not necessary.

In addition, selectmen stated that all members of the Zoning Board of Appeals have met the requirements for Massachusetts State Ethics training on conflict-of-interest issues.

Zoning Board of Appeals members Bruce Holmquist, Fred Hartblay, Thomas Snell and James Henderson submitted letters to selectmen stating that “at no time during the course of the meeting (Slater) describes did any member of the zoning board act in a way that could reasonably be viewed as intimidating, demeaning, threatening, or disrespectful to Ms. Slater.”

“I believe Ms. Slater’s allegations of misconduct by the board and its members are simply wrong,” stated Henderson, vice chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals, in a letter to selectmen.

On the advice of Town Counsel David Gay, the selectmen were given copies of Slater’s letter on May 17 and the complaint was acknowledged at the board’s May 21 meeting.

In mid-June, Gay reported that a hearing would be necessary since the parties were not able to reach a mutually agreeable solution.

A public hearing was held July 24, and the zoning board members were asked if they wanted to hold the review of the complaint in open session, but they voted to discuss the matter in executive session with selectmen given the nature of of the allegations against the character of board members.

Attorney James Burke submitted a summary letter of Lucini’s behavior and letters from Slater, Greenberg and zoning board members were reviewed, as well as in-person testimony regarding the May meeting.